Convenient Access from Hegewisch
Hegewisch sits at the far southern edge of Chicago, and a single road ties it to Smiles For Miles. Burnham Ave runs straight from the neighborhood to our office in Lansing, a drive of about 13 minutes with no expressway involved. For anyone who wants a dentist near Hegewisch without battling city traffic, that easy run south is hard to beat.
Our starting point is the South Shore Line's Hegewisch station at 13730 S Brainard Ave. Follow Brainard Ave for a quarter mile to Burnham Ave, then head south and stay on Burnham for 6 miles as it passes through the Village of Burnham, Calumet City and Lansing. Along the way you pass close to the Grand Calumet and Little Calumet rivers and pass Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City. The full trip is 6.3 miles, roughly 13 minutes, and it ends at 18610 Burnham Ave Ste D, Lansing, IL 60438.
Pull up directions to Smiles For Miles on your phone if it is your first visit. Rush hour adds a little time on Burnham. Patients from Calumet City and Hammond make the same kind of short trip.
Chicago's Community Area 55 and the Office Down the Road
Hegewisch is its own official community area, number 55 on the City of Chicago's map, and part of Cook County. Adolph Hegewisch, president of a rolling stock company, founded it in 1883 as an ideal workingman's community along a rail line. The city annexed it six years later, in 1889. More than a century on, it still feels like a small town tucked inside a big city.
Road names shift as you leave the neighborhood. Inside Chicago, the street that lines up with our route goes by Avenue O. Once you cross Brainard Ave into the Village of Burnham, it becomes Burnham Ave, and that name stays with you all the way to our door in Lansing. Hammond, Indiana borders the neighborhood to the east, so plenty of Indiana drivers use these same streets.
Housing tells that story. About seven in ten homes are single-family houses, compared with roughly a quarter across Chicago as a whole, and about two in three are owner-occupied. People put down roots here, which is why a dental office that can follow a family for years makes sense. Our practice has offered that kind of continuity since 1946.
The neighborhood also holds more open land than any other part of Chicago. Wolf Lake and the William W. Powers State Recreation Area draw about half a million visitors a year, and the neighborhood library branch on 130th St even lends out fishing poles. It is a place where weekends happen outdoors, and that is worth keeping in mind when a cracked tooth turns up on a Saturday morning.
What Hegewisch Commuters Should Know About Keeping Up With Care
The average commute from this corner of the city runs well over half an hour. Some neighbors ride the South Shore Line west toward Millennium Station downtown, and others work at the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant on Torrence Ave, which has operated since 1924. Long days and odd hours make it easy to skip a cleaning. Our Wednesday and Thursday schedule runs until 7 PM so you can come in after work instead.
When a checkup slips by a year or two, small problems tend to grow. A shallow cavity can deepen into an infected tooth, and gums that bleed a little can pull back from the teeth. Catching these early costs less time, less money and fewer appointments. If a tooth is already beyond saving, dental extractions are available here, followed by a plan to fill the gap.
Parents juggling school schedules know the drill. Grissom and Clay elementary schools serve local children, and George Washington High School serves teens from the area along with nearby South Deering. Booking your own visit for a weekday evening means you can still handle the school run and get home for dinner. Friday and Saturday mornings alternate week to week, which gives working parents one more window.
Care Options for Patients Seeking a Dentist Near Hegewisch
Emergency Dentistry
A chipped tooth from a fall or a sudden ache deserves quick attention. New patients without insurance can use our $49 Emergency Exam & X-Ray, which must be mentioned when booking and can't be combined with other offers.
Preventative & General Dentistry
Cleanings and exams keep small issues from turning into weekend emergencies. Digital x-rays and sensors give the dentist a clear look at what is happening below the gumline.
Dental Crowns & Bridges
A molar weakened by an old, oversized filling can crack, and a crown helps hold it together. Bridges replace a missing tooth by anchoring to its neighbors.
Dental Implants
An implant stands alone and does not rely on the teeth next to it. Dr. Shin earned an implant-focused master's degree, a good fit for homeowners who want a long-term replacement.
Invisalign
Clear aligners straighten teeth without wires, which suits adults who meet the public all day. New patients can book a free Invisalign consultation to see if aligners fit their goals.
If you are new to the office, start with a full exam and cleaning. The dentist reviews your x-rays with you on screen, points out anything that needs attention and sorts urgent work from items that can wait. You leave knowing your options, the order of treatment and what your insurance is expected to cover.
Meet Your Lansing Dental Team
Three doctors practice here: Dr. Jun Soo Shin, Dr. Jee Sun Kim and Dr. Eric Kim. Dr. Shin finished NYU's accelerated BA/DDS program, received the New York Academy of Oral Rehabilitation Award and joined the Omicron Kappa Upsilon honor society. He later became a board-certified prosthodontist, with a strong interest in digital dentistry and implants. Dr. Jee Sun Kim brings years of general practice in Chicago and the suburbs, so city patients often find her approach familiar.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Bigger treatment plans do not have to be paid all at once. The office offers financing through CareCredit and Cherry and accepts cash, checks and most major credit cards. The finance and insurance page lists the details, and a friend you refer can earn both of you $50.
Smiles For Miles is great! The team is so friendly and made me feel super comfortable. The doctor was awesome and the hygienist cleaned my teeth beautifully. 10/10 experience!
Olivia T.
My family has been using Smiles For Miles for almost 12 years now and we love them. The doctors are the best. The team is excellent and helpful. Try them out, you won’t be disappointed.
Christine A.
I had a great experience at Smiles For Miles! The doctor and dental assistant were very kind and professional. The office team is also very friendly and the office is always decorated for different holidays. I would highly recommend this practice to anyone looking for a new dentist in Lansing, IL.
Gabe B.
Yelp
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Smiles For Miles from Hegewisch, and how do I get there?
It is 6.3 miles from the Hegewisch station, about 13 minutes by car. Take Brainard Ave a quarter mile to Burnham Ave, then follow Burnham south through Burnham village, Calumet City and Lansing. Neighbors who want a dentist near Hegewisch can make the whole trip on that one road, with no expressway and no tolls.
How much is an emergency exam for a Hegewisch patient without insurance?
It is $49 for the emergency exam and x-ray, for new patients without dental insurance. Mention the offer when you call, since it cannot be combined with other discounts. The visit finds the source of the pain and sets out the next step, whether that is a filling, a root canal or an extraction.
Will I be able to explain my symptoms in Spanish?
Yes, the team speaks Spanish, and the practice website says Hablamos Español. More than half of local residents are Hispanic or Latino, so that matters here. Describing symptoms, medical history and treatment questions in your first language can make a dental visit calmer and help you leave with a clear understanding of the plan.
Is it worth leaving the city limits for dental care from Hegewisch?
For many residents, yes. Downtown offices sit at the far end of a South Shore Line ride, while our Lansing office sits at the end of one straight road. Wednesday and Thursday hours run until 7 PM, so anyone riding the South Shore Line home after work can still fit in an evening appointment.
Which PPO plans is Smiles For Miles in-network with?
The office is in-network with Delta Dental Premier and DPPO, Cigna Total Plus, Principal, MetLife, Lincoln Financial Group and Kansas City Life. It accepts most other private dental insurance too, though not Medicaid or HMO plans. Staff verify your benefits before the appointment and file the claim for you afterward.
Schedule Your Visit from Hegewisch
A dentist near Hegewisch is one straight road away, and the team is ready when you are. Call 708-991-3981 to book a cleaning, an emergency visit or a free consultation. You can view every community we serve or head to our Dentist Lansing, IL homepage to learn more.
